Multi-Outlet Ice Storage Box With Rotating Ice Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ice storage devices are limited to discharging ice in a single direction, failing to meet the need for simultaneous or selective ice exhaustion in various directions, which is necessary for edible ice formation and water cooling applications.
Innovation Solution
An ice storage device with multiple ice outlets and a rotatable ice transfer member, including a spiral blade and a cylindrical opening/closing member, allows ice to be transferred and discharged in multiple directions, featuring a slope guide to prevent ice from getting stuck and a water drainage system for efficient water discharge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single ice outlet is provided in the ice storage box, then the device structure is simple, but ice can only be discharged in a single direction which fails to meet various usage needs
Solution Approach 1:
The ice storage box is segmented into multiple discharge regions with multiple ice outlets positioned at different locations and orientations. This allows ice to be discharged in various directions simultaneously or selectively, meeting different usage needs without requiring a completely complex reconfiguration of the entire storage system.
Solution Approach 2:
The ice storage box is designed with multi-functional outlets that can serve different purposes - some outlets are optimized for dispensing ice to users, others for transferring ice to storage containers, and others for cooling applications. This universal design allows a single storage box to fulfill multiple functions that would otherwise require separate devices.
2Adaptability or versatility
If ice is transferred to a single location, then the transfer mechanism is simple, but it cannot satisfy the need for simultaneous ice exhaustion in various directions
Solution Approach 1:
The ice transfer member is designed as a dynamic, rotatable component that can change its orientation and transfer direction during operation. By rotating the transfer member, ice can be directed to different outlets and locations, providing adaptability without requiring multiple fixed transfer mechanisms for each possible destination.
Solution Approach 2:
The ice transfer system incorporates three-dimensional movement capabilities, allowing ice to be transferred not only horizontally but also vertically and at various angles. This multi-dimensional transfer capability enables ice to reach multiple outlets positioned at different heights and orientations from a single transfer source.
3Adaptability or versatility
If ice outlets are positioned in opposite portions of the ice storage box, then ice can be discharged in various directions, but the opening and closing control of outlets becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The opening and closing control mechanisms for multiple ice outlets are merged into a unified control system. A single control interface or automated controller manages all outlet openings and closings, coordinating their operation to simplify user interaction despite the multiple outlets being positioned at different locations and requiring different control timing.
Solution Approach 2:
The ice storage box incorporates automated control mechanisms that can independently manage the opening and closing of different ice outlets based on detected conditions such as ice availability, outlet usage status, or user requests. This self-service capability reduces the operational complexity for users while maintaining precise control over multiple outlets.
Data Source
AI summary
An ice storage device and a refrigerator and purifier including the ice storage device are disclosed. The ice storage device includes an ice storage box, a plurality of ice outlets provided in the ice storage box and an ice transfer member provided in the ice storage box, to transfer ice to the plurality of the ice outlets selectively. An object of the present invention is to provide an ice storage device capable of discharging ice along various directions, and a refrigerator and purifier including the ice storage device.